Connect with us

Sports

Basketball can overtake football in Nigeria, says NBA Africa vice president

Published

on

126552732 b031b2de fc1f 4661 b777 3f097893e429

Basketball can overcome off-court problems that have “plagued” the game to supplant football as the number one sport in Nigeria, according to the vice president of NBA Africa.

The West African country withdraw its teams from international competition in May at the behest of the government, which intended to dissolve the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) and appoint an interim committee to oversee the management of the game.

That decision was reversed a month later but the change of direction came too late for the women’s national teamwho lost their place at the World Cup in Australia, which begins next month.

However, the men’s side are still competing for qualification for next summer’s World Cup.

“Yes, there was a ban, but the ban has been lifted. And the great thing is that all the stakeholders who are invested in the growth of basketball are focused on moving the game forward,” Gbemisola Abudu, who also holds the position of Head of NBA Nigeria, told the BBC World Service.

“The number one team sport played by most Nigerians, and that most Nigerians engage with, is football – the second being basketball.

“There’s an appetite for the sport in the market – and this is without us doing some level of intentional investments.

“You can only imagine that with us (the NBA) opening an office, with the type of programmes we’re going to have from our junior NBA programmes to our coaching programmes, it’s only going to increase the footprint of the brand and of the game in Nigeria.”

Nigeria presents ‘incredible opportunity’ for NBA

The initial move to dissolve the NBBF and withdraw from international competition for two years was made by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A statement from the ministry cited “the unending drama that plagued and nearly crippled basketball” as a reason for its decision.

Struggling with a crippled domestic league following a protracted leadership crisis, several overseas-born players and a strong community of diaspora players based in the United States have been persuaded to play for Nigeria’s men’s and women’s teams.

This has led to success at the African Basketball Championships in recent years – with the men winning in 2015 and three straight triumphs for the women’s team.

NBA Africa opened an office in Nigeria in February, and Abudu believes Africa’s most populous nation provides a perfect platform and talent base to grow the game on the continent.

“Nigeria presents an incredible opportunity for the NBA,” Abudu continued. “More than half of the players in the NBA of African heritage are Nigerians.

“The NBA is in the business of increasing the footprint of basketball and our goal is to make sure that young boys and girls are able to play basketball.

“We’re so focused on doing what the NBA does, whether it’s from teaching fundamentals, having more people play and benefit from the life skills basketball teaches, to our ability to influence whatever ecosystem we’re in.

“Social justice is a big part of our DNA, making sure that we’re making an impact in a community. That’s what we’re focused on and I truly believe that in the long run it will have an impact.”

North America’s NBA remains the pinnacle of the domestic game, but has established itself in Africa with the long-running Basketball Without Borders camp and the Basketball Africa League (BAL), which had its second season this year.

Abudu, who was born in Nigeria but raised in the United States, studied in California, where she fell in love with basketball.

It also gave her an insight into the impact sport can have in a wider context.

“What I really love about this position is it really brings all my interests under one umbrella,” she said.

“And I get to do that with our junior NBA programme, which really is a programme that truly is positioned to be used as a tool for nation building, because you’re impacting the youth in Nigeria.

“When you look at our population of 211 million people, the average age in Nigeria is 18.9 years old, so you have a programme that speaks to them and caters to them.”

Abudu, an entrepreneur and global marketing expert, says success in her role will be attained when basketball “becomes second nature” in Nigeria.

“It [success] is when it’s something kids look forward to because it’s become part of the school curriculum,” she added.

“That’s success for me; where your average kid has the opportunity to play basketball, when you start hearing kids say ‘I want to grow up to be a basketball player’, ‘I want to play in the BAL’ or ‘I want to play in the NBA’.

“That’s success – because that means you’re becoming part of the subconscious of culture in Nigeria – and it’s when more people are watching our primetime games on Saturday.

“Also, I would say our junior NBA programme to be implemented in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. I want us to have a junior NBA programme in all the different regions where kids who love basketball can plug themselves into our programme. To me that’s success.”

Continue Reading

Sports

Harry Maguire accepts Isaac Adongo’s apologies

Published

on

By

Mr Adongo, however, apologised to Maguire in Parliament on Tuesday, saying the Manchester United defender now performed better for his club than Dr Bawumia, whom he said had repeatedly supervised the country's economic incompetence and had subsequently gone to the (IMF) for a bailout.

Harry Maguire, a Manchester United defender, has accepted Hon. Isaac Adongo’s apologies for dragging him through the dirt.

The Ghanaian politician previously rated the former Leicester City captain as the worst player recruited by the Red Devils.

Adongo was discussing the budget when he likened Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s economic management to Maguire’s on-field performances.

Mr Adongo, however, apologised to Maguire in Parliament on Tuesday, saying the Manchester United defender now performed better for his club than Dr Bawumia, whom he said had repeatedly supervised the country’s economic incompetence and had subsequently gone to the (IMF) for a bailout.

“I was very quick to compare my big brother Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to Harry Maguire. Mr. Speaker, I now apologize to Harry Maguire…Today Maguire has turned the corner; he is a transformational footballer. Maguire is now scoring goals for Manchester United.”

“Mr Speaker, Harry Maguire is now a key player for Manchester United. As for our Maguire, he is now roaming at the IMF with a cup in hand,” he stated.

Following the apology, Maguire stated on social media, “MP Issac Adongo apology accepted.” “Hope to see you at Old Trafford soon.”

Meanwhile, Everton will play Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday at Goodison Park.

Continue Reading

Sports

Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach, Lionel Scaloni, has hinted that he may resign

Published

on

By

Messi on fan-police clashes: "There could have been a tragedy." After a brief stint in command of Argentina's under-20 team, Scaloni took over as manager in August 2018. Argentina's 2021 Copa America victory was their first major championship in 28 years, and it qualified them for the Finalissima against European champions Italy in June 2022, which they won 3-0 at Wembley. Later that year, they won their third World Cup in Qatar, and first since 1986.

Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach, Lionel Scaloni, has indicated that he is considering stepping down after five years in charge.

Scaloni made the stunning statement following Argentina’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying win against Brazil on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro.

Before winning the World Cup in Qatar last year, the 45-year-old guided Argentina to the Copa America in 2021.

“Argentina needs a coach who has all the energy possible and who is well,” said Scaloni.

“I need to stop the ball and start thinking, I have a lot of things to think about during this time.

“It’s not goodbye or anything, but I need to think because the bar is very high and it’s complicated to keep going and it’s complicated to keep winning.

“These guys are making it difficult, so I need to think about it for a while. I will talk to the FA president and the players afterwards.”

Messi on fan-police clashes: “There could have been a tragedy.”

After a brief stint in command of Argentina’s under-20 team, Scaloni took over as manager in August 2018.

Argentina’s 2021 Copa America victory was their first major championship in 28 years, and it qualified them for the Finalissima against European champions Italy in June 2022, which they won 3-0 at Wembley.

Later that year, they won their third World Cup in Qatar, and first since 1986.

“We are sure and hope that Scaloni will continue,” said Argentina and Tottenham defender Cristian Romero.

“Let’s see now he will have time to think, he didn’t say anything in the dressing room about it. We will try to convince him.”

Argentina’s victory against Brazil on Tuesday was their first-ever away win over their rivals in World Cup qualification, and it took them two points clear at the top of the table.

The game at Rio’s Maracana stadium was delayed for 30 minutes due to a scuffle during the national anthems.

Continue Reading

Sports

2026WCQ: Chris Hughton under pressure after Black Stars defeat in Comoros

Published

on

By

Ghana could have grabbed an early lead in Tuesday's encounter when Inaki Williams set up Antoine Semenyo for a goal, but the Bournemouth striker hit the crossbar.

Chris Hughton’s Black Stars suffered their first competitive loss as head coach, falling 1-0 to Comoros in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

Myziane Maolida’s first-half goal was enough to give the hosts their second straight victory over the Black Stars.

Ghana is now in fourth position, three points behind early group leaders Comoros, who have won both of their initial qualification games.

Following a tense, late win against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi last Friday, there was some hope that the Black Stars may capitalise on Mali’s slip-up against the Central African Republic to grab the group lead.

Ghana could have grabbed an early lead in Tuesday’s encounter when Inaki Williams set up Antoine Semenyo for a goal, but the Bournemouth striker hit the crossbar.

Continue Reading

Trending